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Visuospatial working memory in toddlers with a history of periventricular Leukomalacia: an EEG narrow-band power
María Luisa García-Gomar1, Efraín Santiago-Rodríguez, Mario Rodríguez-Camacho
1Unidad de Investigación en Neurodesarrollo Dr Augusto Fernández Guardiola, Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, México.
Insights
Toddlers with Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) show working memory deficits. Their brain activity during memory tasks differs significantly from healthy children, indicating altered neuronal network function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) is a brain injury primarily affecting white matter in preterm infants.
- PVL can also lead to grey matter damage, impacting structures crucial for working memory, such as the dorsomedial nucleus and cortex.
- Understanding the cognitive and neural consequences of PVL is vital for early intervention and support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare behavioral performance on a visuospatial working memory task (VSWMT) between toddlers with a history of PVL and healthy controls.
- To analyze differences in electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectra during a VSWMT in these two groups.
- To investigate the neural correlates of working memory deficits in toddlers with PVL.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, comparative study design was employed.
- Toddlers with and without a history of PVL completed a VSWMT.
- EEG data were recorded and analyzed for absolute power in different frequency bands during baseline, attention, and working memory retention phases.
Main Results:
- Toddlers with PVL demonstrated significantly fewer correct responses on the VSWMT compared to healthy toddlers (16.1 vs. 20.5, p=0.04).
- Healthy toddlers showed increased EEG power in specific frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital regions during working memory retention.
- PVL toddlers exhibited distinct patterns of increased EEG power, particularly in lower frequencies and across widespread fronto-parietal networks during memory retention.
Conclusions:
- Toddlers with a history of PVL exhibit deficits in visuospatial working memory.
- PVL is associated with altered brain activity patterns during working memory tasks, characterized by greater low-frequency power and more widespread network engagement.
- These findings highlight the impact of PVL on cognitive functions and neural network development, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
Background:
Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) affects white matter, but grey matter injuries have also been reported, particularly in the dorsomedial nucleus and the cortex. Both structures have been related to working memory (WM) processes. The aim of this study was to compare behavioral performances and EEG power spectra during a visuospatial working memory task (VSWMT) of toddlers with a history of PVL and healthy toddlers.
Methodology/Principal Findings:
A prospective, comparative study of WM was conducted in toddlers with a history of PVL and healthy toddlers. The task responses and the EEG narrow-band power spectra during a VSWMT were compared in both groups. The EEG absolute power was analyzed during the following three conditions: baseline, attention and WM retention. The number of correct responses was higher in the healthy group (20.5 ± 5.0) compared to the PVL group (16.1 ± 3.9) (p = 0.04). The healthy group had absolute power EEG increases (p ≤ 0.05) during WM compared to the attention condition in the bilateral frontal and right temporal, parietal and occipital regions in frequencies ranging from 1.17 to 2.34 Hz and in the right temporal, parietal and occipital regions in frequencies ranging from 14.06 to 15.23 Hz. In contrast, the PVL group had absolute power increases (p ≤ 0.05) in the bilateral fronto-parietal, left central and occipital regions in frequencies that ranged from 1.17 to 3.52 Hz and in the bilateral frontal and right temporal regions in frequencies ranging from 9.37 to 19.14 Hz.
Conclusions/Significance:
This study provides evidence that PVL toddlers have visuospatial WM deficits and a very different pattern of absolute power increases compared to a healthy group of toddlers, with greater absolute power in the low frequency range and widespread neuronal networks in the WM retention phase.
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